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5. Compared with the average of the past 3 years, there is a decrease under the British flag of 416 ships and 167,053 tons, of Foreign ships, there is an increase of 53,510 tons.

6. The general trade as represented by the amount of shipping from and to the various countries does not show on the whole any very marked alteration. Cochin-China, Siam, and the Gulf of Tonquin show a falling off while the Coast of China and Formosa (in British Ships) and India and Singapore show the chief increase. There is however a considerable falling off in the Junk trade between Hong- kong and Coast of China and Formosa.

7. The trade with Great Britain and Continent of Europe does not differ materially from that of 1888.

8. 3,669 steamers, 151 sailing vessels and 26,957 Junks arrived during the year, giving an average of over 84 vessels daily arriving in the Waters of the Colony. Of the steamers, over 69 per cent. were British and of these, more than 50 per cent. were Ocean going."

**

STEAM-LAUNCHES,

9. On the 31st December, there were 101 Steam-launches in the Harbour, of these, 50 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 41 were privately owned, 10 were the property of the Colonial Government. There were, in addition, 6 launches, the property of the War Department.

EMIGRATION.

10. There has been a falling off in the number of Chinese leaving the Colony for Ports other than those in China or Japan. One cause of this falling off is said to be a reduction in the rate of wages paid to coolies in the Straits Settlements. I am inclined to the belief, however, that the principal cause is that the Coolie Brokers or "Catchers" who go into the interior to procure emigrants, are not just now as successful as they have been hitherto in securing clients. The fact of fraudulent practices on the part of these "Catchers" has become known in the interior, and the Mandarins have consequently put a check on the people, who are already rather chary of placing themselves in the hands of the "Catchers." This is not an unmixed benefit. On the one hand, the number of coolies who are cajoled into emigrating is reduced, but on the other hand, those on whom no deception is being practised are distrustful and thus deterred from going.

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11. In my Annual Report for 1888 I alluded to the abuses connected with Chinese Emigration, I have since had no cause to alter the opinion which I then expressed. An abuse which I did not therein refer to was that of "impersonation" at the examination before the Emigration Officer. This is some- times detected at the final examination on board, when the coolie, having plucked up courage, declares that he does not want to go, and it is then discovered that although he has a contract ticket" which has been passed by the Emigration Officer, he himself has never been subject to examination. It also frequently occurs that coolies are found on board the vessel with tickets similar in all respects to those issued by the Passenger Broker, but which have not received the Emigration Officer's stamp, thus shewing that the holders of these tickets have never been examined as to their willingness to emigrate. Enquiry as to the origin of these tickets is always unsuccessful, the coolie has always received it from

a friend" who, he cannot or will not give up.

12. During 1889, direct emigration to Deli (or Medan) in Sumatra was introduced, previous to this, it used to be done through Singapore. The first ship that left here direct was the China with 272 emigrants. When somewhere near Singapore, there was a revolt of the coolies and the Captain was forced to take the vessel into Singapore. The reason given for the outbreak was that, the coolies were told at Hongkong that they were going to Singapore, and they did not want to go any where else. A similar incident occurred on board the S.S. Kiel later on in the year, and there has been one more case reported in 1890. These "outbreaks" are to my mind easily accounted for, I am of opinion that they are brought about by the Chinese Brokers at Singapore, who desire to re-establish what was to them a lucrative business, and in order to accomplish this they endeavour to bring direct emigration into disrepute. They have their emissaries on board the ship, and these succeed in stiring up the coolies to revolt by telling them that they are being deceived.

13. Whatever safeguards are adopted for the protection of the emigrating Chinese coolies, it will I think always be possible for them to be to some extent circumvented by the wily and unscrupulous Chinese Brokers. I think, however, that if the proposed system of Licensed Boarding Houses, and an Emigration Wharf is established, a severe blow will be dealt to these rascals, and I have hope that when the system is adopted, we shall hear little about real Emigration abuses,

REGISTRY OF SHIPPING.

14. During the year, six vessels of 1,694 tons were registered under the provisions of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, and seven Certificates of Registry were cancelled. Return No. XVIII shows the remainder of the work done in this Branch.

MARINE MAGistrate's Court.

15. Fifty-three cases were heard in this Court during the year. (11) were the principal offences in the case of ships, and Throwing Leaving without Clearance (6) in the case of Junks,

Refusal of duty (17), and Assault Ballast into the Harbour (9), and